Reflecting road signal



April 17, 1934. Q WEBER 1,955,478

REFLECTING ROAD SIGNAL Filed Nov. 1 1931 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented! Apr. I7, 1934 unireo stares PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

One of the prime objects of the invention is to provide a reflecting signal of the type adapted to be positioned in a roadway at spaced apart points to indicate the centerline of the roadway,

or the boundary or right-of-way line, so that definite lanes of travel will be indicated, and pedestrians and vehicular traffic will have no dilflculty in determining the line in the roadway which bounds the right-of-way for traflic moving in certain directions.

Another object is to provide a signal adapted to be positioned in or adjacent to a roadway to give warning to pedestrians and vehicular traffic of possible danger.

A further object is to design a signal of the character described which includes signal giving elements of a reflecting nature which are adapted to reflect rays of light and which are equally effective to carry out their functions in the daygg time and in the nighttime;

A still further object is to provide a signal device of simple and economical construction, which will not hinder or obstruct the passage of vehicles thereover, and which requires no attention after installation.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing forming part of this application, in which- Fig. 1 is a detail plan view of the signal,

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof, Q

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3.3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 shows a section of a paved road'with my 35 signals in proper position therein, and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a roadway showing one of the signals in position.

My invention is particularly directed to a means for visibly indicating a center line or rightgg of-way line on roadways and in carrying out my invention, I provide a block 5 formed of metal, rubber, or other material suitable to withstand the travel of vehicles of all kinds; this is preferably shaped as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the upper surface being crowned so that no sharp corners are presented, the edge merging into a substantially flat lower face 6 which is set in facial contact with the pavement in which the signal is installed, and a centrally disposed, slightly tapered base portion 7 is formed integral therewith, and is set in the concrete or other material, so that the signal can be flrrnly anchored in position.

@ppositely disposed recesses 8 are provided in the block as clearly shown in Fig. l, the side walls being flared outwardly and upwardly so that the device will be self-cleaning; that is, dust and dirt which might lodge in the recesses will be removed by suction or draft created by rapidly moving vehicles.

Spaced apart sockets 10 are provided in the face of the walls 9, and in which the reflectors 11 are adapted to be mounted, these reflectors being preferably formed of a special glass or translucent material, which ishighly emcient in be reflecting light, and which is suitably colored to render it conspicous from rays of light from the sun or moon, or rays of light from the headlights of approaching vehicles. These can be mounted in 'any desired mannerso that they are readily Ml removable, but I flnd it satisfactory to' insert the reflector which is usually mounted in a thimble l2 and then calk with a soft lead gasket Bf. Slotted openings C communicate with the sockets 10 so that the reflectors can be readily re- 36 moved by inserting any suitable thin instrument and prying the reflectors out, and these openings are usually callred with lead D or the like after the reflectors are inserted.

In practice the signals are set in the center so of the roadway in predetermined, spaced apart relation, or in a certain line which it is desired to indicate, with the reflectors facing the length of the roadway. Naturally, the reflectors are more clearly discernible at night than in the daytime, and likewise vehicle drivers have less difficulty in distinguishing their proper lane of travel or rightof-way in the daytime than they do at night, but when these reflectors are provided in a roadway, the right-of-way lines can be very readily seen, es and possibility of accident resulting from encroachment on the adjacent right of-way, (and in which vehicles are usually traveling in the opposite direction) is eliminated.

Obviously these blocks can be shaped to prob5 vide reflectors facing in four directions for use on corners or highway intersections, and while in the present instance I have shown three reflectors in each wall, it will be readily understood that any suitable number may be used. The W) signal-giving elements are easily removable for repair or replacement, and other forms of anchoring means may be provided without departing from the spirit of my invention.

From the foregoing description it will be ob vious that I have perfected a very simple, economical, and e ficient signal for marking the centerline or boundary line of roadways.

What 3 claim is:

1. A'road signal of the character described comprising a block having a smooth symmetrical convex upper surface, the edges of which are flush with the face of the road, opposed recesses provided in said block and terminating in vertical walls, reflectors mounted in said walls for reflecting light rays therefrom, and a slotted opening communicating with each reflector to facilitate the removal thereof.

2. A signal of the character described comprising a smooth mushroom-shaped block having a downwardly projecting lug formed integral therewith', recesses provided in said block and terminating in vertical walls, reflectors mounted in said walls, and slots in said block and communicating with said reflectors to permit the removal thereof.

3. A signal of the character described and having a smooth symmetrical convex upper surface, theedge merging with the bottom face of the signal which is adapted to rest on the face of the road, recesses formed in said signal and terminating in straight vertical walls, reflectors mounted in said walls, and centrally disposed anchoring means depending from said'bottom face for securing said signal in position.

4. A signal for indicating a right-of-way line on a roadway, comprising a mushroom-shaped block, opposed recesses provided therein, each recess terminating in a vertical end Wall, sockets in said walls, reflectors mounted therein, and slots in said block and communicating with said sockets to permit the removal or replacement of the reflectors.

5. A signal of the character described, comprising a block having a smooth symmetrical convex-shaped upper surface, the edges of which are flush with the face of the road, recesses provided in said block and terminating in vertical end walls, the side walls of said recesses being flared outwardly, sockets mounted in said end walls, reflectors mounted in said sockets, and openings in the block to accommodate a tool to permit the removal of the reflectors.

6. ,A signal of the character described comprising a block having a symmetrical smooth convex upper surface, the edge of which merges with the face of said block and flush with the surface of the road in which it is placed, a plurality of recesses provided in the block, and comprising end and side walls, the side walls flaring upwardly and outwardly, sockets in the end walls, reflectors securely mounted therein, means for securing the reflectors in fixed position, and openings in the block to permit the removal of the said reflectors.

FRED C. WEBER. 

